There are 26 species of the genus Lepilemur, whose common name of Sportive Lemur was coined in 1894 by a Scottish naturalist explorer, Henry Ogg Forbes. It is assumed that he called them this on account of their agility - something you will only witness at night, because by day, all you will usually see of them is an immobile fur ball topped with huge nocturnal eyes.
Sportives are medium size lemurs: quite fluffy & furry, weighing up to 2lbs (0.9kg) and a foot to 14 inches (30 to 35 cm) body length. Their tails are about the same length again. Whilst their undersides are whitish yellow, their most visible sections are grey-brown to reddish; similar in shade to tree bark against which they camouflage well during the day.
Sportive lemurs are nocturnal herbivores feeding mainly on leaves. By day, they roost amongst leaves or in the hollows of trees, which is where females will try to nest their young. We can find a few of these hollows in Lokobe Forest on Nosy Be, often with a Sportive lemur popping out a round head which is dominated by a huge pair of night-vision eyes. A long yawn is never far away, providing excellent views of mouth and dentures!
Sportive lemurs are mainly solitary creatures. Their territories overlap with lemurs of the opposite sex, but they will defend against others of the same gender. As with many animals in Madagascar, they give birth between October and December. This marks the end of the dry season, leading into a rainy period of plenty (January to March). Gestation is between 120 and 150 days, giving birth to a single offspring. The young will be weaned after 4 months, but will remain with the mother for about a year. Adulthood is reached in a further 6 months. Average life expectancy is 8 years.
Where to see Sportive Lemurs
Sportive lemurs are found throughout Madagascar, with their 26 species divergently adapted to habitats ranging from lowland rainforests of the Masoala Peninsula (the Masoala, or Scott's Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur scottorum); to the tropical dry forests of Kirindy (the Red-tailed Sportive lemur Lepilemur ruficaudatus) ; and the dry gallery and spiny forests of the deep south (Petter's sportive lemur Lepilemur petteri).
Some species, like the Hawk or Nosy Be Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur tymerlachsoni) are Critically Endangered, with very little of their habitat left. Loss of habitat presents the most significant threat to their future survival.
Sportive Lemurs do their best not to be seen by day. You really need a guide who knows the location of their sleepy hollows and roosts to be able to see one. For some of your best chances, join one of our Whale Shark Research, Islands, Marine Life & Lemurs journeys; or one of our bespoke holidays which incorporates Nosy Be.
